Braiding machine



Jan., 9, 1923.. LIZIIJSZ. J. B. CHACE.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

FILED JUNE 25.1920- 2 SHEETS-SHEET llmatente dan. l

JOHN JB. Gl-LACE, 03F SOUTH ATTLIEJBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRAIDNG ll/ICHNJE.

Application filed June 25,

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN E. CHAGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at South Attleboro, in the county of Bristol, State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBraiding Machines, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in braiding machines for'fabricating braided cords and the like. AOne object of the invention isto provide an improved braiding machine capable of vincreased speed ofoperation and greater productive capacity.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide for the use of largerbobbins of yarn on the bobbin-carriers of the machine whereby to reducethe number of stoppages required. for replenishing the yarn supply.

Another object of the invention is to relieve the friction and lessenthe wear on the running parts of the machine to provide for greaterdurability and reduce the cost of repairs.

Further objects of the improvement will appear from the description ofthe embodiment of the invention set forth in the fol lowingspecification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a section of the deck of a braiding machineshowing my improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view taken through the deck of the machineon the line A-A of Fig. l, and illustrating the bobbincarriers whichtravel in the grooves or tracks in the deck; t

Fig. 3, a similar sectional view taken in a circular plane on the lineB-B of Fig.i l; and i Fig. 4, an enlarged side elevation of one of thebobbin-carriers of my improved machine.

My improvements are directed to a common type of braider having one ormore horizontal decks or track-plates provided with circuitous groovesor guideways in which the bobbinfcarriers are traveled around theaxis ofthe machine. There are a complete ring `or circular plate.

1920. Serial N0. 391,703.

usually two guideways in the deck or track` plate, leading in a`tortuous or sinuous course around the Vcentral axis o-f the machine and.crossing each other at regular intervals. rll`wo sets ofbobbin-carriers are traveled in opposite directions in the guideways tocause them to pass inwardly and outwardly around each other to interlacetheir strands in accordance with the well known method of a maypoledance. The present invention relates to an improved arrangement of theguiding-means for the carriers and consists particularly in a pluralityof auxiliary runners, rollers or guiding-shoes on each carrier adaptedto"`en gage with ithe track-grooves in the deck. In the embodiment ofthe invention herein shown-the track-plate is constructed with arelatively deep groove or guideway, the upper portion of which isengaged by the main runners of the carrier, while the lower portqion ofthe groove or guideway is adapted to be engaged by auxiliary studs orrollers arranged fore and aft of the main runner on the carrier.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings I' have here illustrated asection of approXi mately one-quarter of the full circumference of thedeck or traclcplate, indicated in general by the reference character 2;it

being understood that thev deck consists of The deck 2 comprises aninner ring 3 having equidistant star-points 4 whose outer edges form oneside of the guiding tracks 5 and 6 in which the runners or shoes of thecarriers slide.- Surrounding the inner ring 3, outwardly therebeyond, isan outer ring 7 formed with inwardly projecting points 8 which arearranged radially opposite the points 4. Arranged centrally within thespaces between the points 4 and 8 of the rings 3 and 7 areirregularlyshaped plates 9, usually called quoits. The quoits 9 havetheir edges lying contiguous to and spaced slightly apart from thescalloped edges of the rings 3 and 7 wherebyto provide the sinuousgroovesor guideways 5 and 6 which intersect at the crossing points l0.The several sections 3, 7 and 9 of the deck or track-plate 2 arearranged'in a horizontal `of the frame 12, see Fig.y 2.

plane, being supported on the upstanding webs 11 of a lower frame-member12, see Fig. 2. The inner and outer deck sections or rings 3 and 7 andthe quoits 9 are held in place on the frame 12 by means of verticalbolts 13 carrying nuts 14 at their ends, see also Fig. 3. The bolts 13extend through central hubs 15 on the under side of the quoits 9, andthe plate sections or rings 3 and 7 have ribs 16 resting on the webs 11Held between the hubs 15 on the quoits 9 and raised bosses 17 on theframe 12 are cylindrical sleeves or bushings 1,8 which serve as bearingsfor the usualhorn-gears 20 which propel the carriers 25 of the braiderthrough the grooves 5 and 6. The bushings 13 are formed with lugs 19projecting from their ends and engaging slots 22 in the hubs 15 and 17to locate the bushings in position and prevent them from turning, seeFig. 3. The horngears 20 are formed with hubs 23 journaled on thebushings 18, and are arranged with their teeth 21 intermeshing as shownin Fig. 3. In this way a circular train of gearing is provided extendingcircumferentially of the central axis of the machine and adapted to bedriven from an outer gear which receives its motion from thepower-actuated driving-shaft of the machine. The driving connections forthe gears 20 may be of any well known arrangementand are not hereinshown since theyhave no relation to the present improvement. Suffice itto state that the alternate gears 2O of the circular train are rotatedin opposite directions to propel the carriers 25 through their guidewaysin the manner as well known in the art.

The gears 20 carry superimposed, circular plates ordisks 26 formed withradial slots 27, see Fig. 1, which engage the horns 28 projecting fromthe under sides of the carriers 25. Referring to Fig. 3, the edges ofthe disks 26 overlap at the pointswhere the teeth 21 of the gears 20intermesh and as theI adjacent gears turn in opposite directions thehorn 28 on the carrier passes from one slot 27 to another to transferthe carrier progressively through all of the gears.

As before indicated the present improvement relates particularly to themeans for guiding the carriers through the grooves or guideways of thetrack-plate 2. Referring to Fig. 4, the carrier 2 5 for the yarn-bobbinB is constructed with a horizontal base 30 for supporting thebobbin-spindle 31.. ln my present improved structurethe base 30 mayconsist of a flat plate which is preferably formed with a pointed-prowat its leac ing end `and a rounded rearward end whereby to adapt it toclear the other carriers as it passes thereby. Beneath the baseplate 30is a correspondingly-tormed guide.-

plate 32 which travels below the track-plate 2 and bears against itsribbed under side to steady the carrier during its movement in theguideways of the deck. The upper and lower plates 30 and 32 are securedin spaced relation by means of vertical studs 33 and 34. As shown inFig. 4 the forward stud is reduced at its ends and riveted through thetwo plates 3() and 32 to form a rigid strut therebetween. The rearwardstud 34 is reduced in diameter at its lower end and riveted through thebottom plate 32; While its upper end is extended in the bobbin-spindle31 which is driven through va hub 35 on the top otl the plate 3U.Adapted to turn on the spindle 31 above they hub 35 is a sleeve 36 forreceiving ther wooden or paper bobbin B which carries the supply of yarnY, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4. The turningr ot' thebobbin B with its sleeve 36 is controlled hy a paw] 37 engaging theratchet-teeth on the head 33 of the bobbin. The pawl 37 is mounted onthe lower end of a wire rod 39 which is `tormed with a loop 40 at itsupper end encircling a vertical standard or bar 41 which rises from theforward end of the base 3l) oi: the carrier 25. lWounted to slide on thestandard 41 is a tension-weight 42 having guide ing slots 43 throughwhich the yarn or thread g/ lea-ds from the bobbin ll. rl`he strand orthread .1/ passes up through a guide-eye 44 at the top of the standard11. and as it is drawn olf from the bobbin l it will have a tendency tolitt the tensionweight 42. As the weight 4-2 rises against the loop 4()on the rod 3f) it raises the pawl 37 away from the ratchet 33 on thebobbin B to allow the latter to rotate to deliver the yarn in lengths asrequired by the braidino' operation.

yhe above described arrangement otl the 'mechanism oi' the braider is inaccordance with the general construction ot this common type of machineand my present im` provements, which are related to the guid ing-meansfor the bobbin-carriers 25. will now be described. Usually the hase ot`the bobbin-carrier is constructed in a single piece with a vertical shoeor runner ot' sul stantially oblong shape which travels in the groovesin the track-plates and upper and lower horizontal rims or flanges whichen` gage the top and bottom edges ol' the grooves. The runner orguiding-shoe must be ot sutlicient length to adapt it to span the LCrossovers 10 in the grooves or tracks 5 and 6; and in order that therunners may pass `around the curves in the track the grooves are eutaway or widened at these points. The usual practice is to eut away thecui-veal edges of the quoits 5). as indicated at X in Fig. 1, 'to allowthe runners to (alie the curves, and with such a construction the runneror shoe on the carrier will have a loose and more or less sloppy tit inthe l lt) naa-igea wobbly actionlof the carrier as it slides in thetrack or guideway and has the ellect of materially reducing the Speed atwhich the carriers may be revolved around the machine. Furthermore, theplay of the carrier shoes or runners in the track causes excessivefriction and wear`on the parts with the result that frequent repairs andreplacements are necessary. '.l`o correct this condition and remedy thedefects in the construction of previous types ot machines I have deviseda track or guiding arrangement which insures a smooth even movement ofthe carrier in its track, with a minimum of friction between theengaging parts,

with the result that the machine may be operated at a much higher speedand with materially less wear and strain on its mechanism.

As before described my improved carrier 25 is constructed with upper andlower flanges or-plates 3() and 32 which serve the. same purpose as thetop and bottom flanges of the usual form of carrier and on the bottom ofthe plate 30 is a. shoe or runner 45. It is to be noted, however,ythatthe plates 30 and 32 are spaced at a greater distance apart than in theusual construction, and it will be observed that the track-plate 2 iscorrespondingly thickened by means of the hubs 15 and webs I6 shown inFigs. 2 and 3 and previously described. llt is also noted that thevertical runner 4:5 which proJects down from the bottom of the top plateor base 30 of the carrier is ot relatively slight depth so that it willengage with the grooves 5 and 6 of the track-plate 2 only along theupper edges thereof. rllhat is to say the main shoe or runner 45, whichis of rectangular shape in cross-section, asJ shown in Figs. l and 2,does not extend from the top plate 30 to the lower plate 32 as in theusual construction, but only'about onethird the distance between theplates, see Fig. i.

llt has been explained that the plates 30' and 32 are fastened togetherin spaced relation b-y means of' the vertical studs 33 and Se and thesestuds serve for a further purpose, that ot providing auxiliaryguidingmeans or runners for traveling in the trackgrooves 5 and 6. Thebodies of the studs. 33`and 34 may be made or' a. diameter to adapt themto lit freely between the sides of the grooves 5 and 6 to engagetherewith, but in accorda-nce with the preferred construction shown inFig. 4 l employ the studs- 33 and 34 as journals for the rollers 46which are adapted to turn freely thereon. rThe rollers 46 are adapted tobe received within the grooves 5 and 6 of the trackplate 2 to travelalong the sidesthereof with a. free rolling motion whereby to reduce thefriction and wear on the parte.

l and v2 that the hlt Referring to Fig. l of the drawings it will beseen that the main runner or shoe 45 travels in' the upper part of thegrooves 5 and 6'and serves as a sortof guide or pilot to direct thecarriers through the crossings l0 without allowing-them to be diverted ofrom their normal direction of travel, see dash lines in Fig. l. Thestuds 38 and 34, with their rollers 46, form the auxiliary guiding-meansfor the carriers and, being arranged fore and aft of the main or pilotrunner 45, theyxtake practically all of the thrust against the sides ofthe track-grooves 5 and 6 and thus tend to greatly relieve the frictionand wear between the engaging surfaces. It will be noted by reference toliigs. quoits 9 are cut away on their curved sides only at their upperedges`v that is at thel top of the track-grooves 5 and 6. Stated anotherway, it will be seen that the track-grooves are of uniform widththroughout their main portions and are only widened at their top sidesto accommodate the pilot or guiding shoe 45 as it travels around thesharp turns or bends in the track` llt will vthus beapparent vthat sincethe guiding-rollers 46 tra-velA in they u lower portion of the trackthey will direct the carriers in a truer course and will slide throughthe track-grooves with a smoother evener motion, without play orvibration. 'll'he rollers 46 also tend to guide the carriers around theturns of the track with an easier action and thus reduce strain and wearon the parts. For these reasons the carriers may be traveled through thetracks at a much faster speed, with less resistance and' wear, and hencethe speed of operation of the braider will be materially increased, witha corresponding increase in. its rate ot' production. i i

It is noted that the bobbin B is mounted on the trailing end of thecarrier in axial al'inement with the rear guiding stud 34; Through thisarrangement the bebbin will betraveled concentrically with respect tothe outer and inner curves of the tracks 5 and 6 whereby two bobbinswill pass eac-h other at the maximum distance apart. That is to say, onebobbin passing at one side of lio' the quoit 9 will be atthe maximumdistance For this reason for applying fresh bobbins or replenishing Athe supply of yarn are materially. reduced and production therebyincreased.. y

llt will be observed from the above that my invention providesanimproved braiding machine adapted for increased speed ot operationwith greater productive capacity. By reducing the friction and wear onthe mechanism I also provide for greater durability of the machine witha. consequent saving in repairs and replacements,

Various modifications may be made in the construct-ion and arrangementof the parts ot' my improved mechanism without departing from the spiritor scope of the inven,

tion; therefore, without limiting myself to the exact embodiment hereinshown and described, what I claim' is:

1. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havinggrooved guideways, of bobbin-carriers for'the varnsupplies having mainrunners slidable in the guideways, and a plurality of auxiliaryguiding-means on the carriers adapted to engage the guideways at pointsfor and aftof the ends of the main runners.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havingguiding-grooves, of a bobbin-carrier provided with a main shoe slidableinthe grooves, and a plurality of auxiliary guiding studs on thelcarrier adapted to engage the grooves at points in advance and at therear of the ends of the main shoe.

3.` In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havingtrack-grooves, ot bobbin-carriers for the yarn-supplies providedV withmain runners engaging the grooves throughout a portion of their depth,and a plurality of auxiliary guiding-means arranged fore and aft ot theends of the runners on the carriers adapted to engage r.with thetrack-grooves below the runners.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-platehavingsinuous trackgrooves intersecting each other at intervals, ofbobbin-ca'rriers provided vwith longitudinal runners slidable in thegrooves to'direct the carriers through the crossovers there-- of, and aplurality of auxiliary guidingmeans on the carriages to engage thegrooves at points tore and att of the ends of the runners.

5. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havingtrack-grooves` of bobbin-carriers for the yarn-supplies provided withrunners engaging the trackgrooves along their upper edges, and aplurality of auxiliary guiding-means on the carriers adapted to enga-gethe guidinggrooves throughout the full depth thereof. i

6. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havingtrack-grooves. ot bobbin-carriers 'for the yarn-supplies provided withguiding-means engaging the upper portion of the track-grooves', and aplurality of auxiliary guiding-means arranged fore and aft of theirst-named guidingmeans and adapted to engage with the trackgroovesthroughout the full depth thereof.

7. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havingtrack-grooves. of: bobbin-carriers for the `yarn-supplies provided withrunners engaging the trackgrooves throughout a portion of their depthonly, and studs projecting below the earriers at points tore and at't otthe runners and adapted to engage the track-grooves throughout theirfull depth.

S. In a braiding machine, the combination with a track-plate havingtrack-grooves,ot bobbin-carriers Jfor the yarn-supplies provided withrunners projecting do\\'nwa1dly into the. track-grooves throughout aportion of their depth only, studs projecting downwardly from thecarriers at points fore and aft ot the runners, and rollers journalledon the studs to adapt theni to engage the track-grooves below therunners.

9. In a braiding machine, the combination of a track-plate havingtrack-grooves, bobbin-carriers having upper and lower guiding-flangesslidable on the top and bottom of the track-plate in overlappingrelation with the track-grooves, runners projecting below the upperflanges to engage the trackgrooves, and a plurality oi auxiliaryguiding-means extending between the flanges fore and aft of the runnersand adapted to engage the track-grooves throughout their full depth.

lO. In a braiding machine, the combination ot a track-plate havingtrack-grooves, bobbin-carriers having upper and lower guiding-flangesslidable on the top and bottom of the track-plate in overlappingrelation with the track-grooves, runners projecting below the upperflanges to engage the upper portion o't the track-grmves, vertical studsconnecting the upper and lower flanges at points tore and att ot therunners, and rollers journalled on the studs to adapt them to engage thesides ot the trachgrooves.

11. In a braiding machine, they combination ot' a track-plate havingtrack-grooves extending in a sinuous course and intersecting each otherat inter 'als, bobbin-carriers having longitudinal runners cnga'igingthe.

upper portion ot the track-grooves. and gV auxiliary guiding-meansarranged at the leading' and trailing ends ol' the carriers and llOextending down into the*track-grooves below the runners` the upperportion ol the track-grooves being widened at the curves to provideclearance tor the runners but having a uniform width throughout theirlower portion to adapt thi4 auxiliary guiding-means to direct thecarriers in a path coincident with the median verti-ral plane ot thetrack-gro()ves.

12. In a braiding machine. the combination of a track-plate havingtrack-gia)oref-l cxtending in a sinuous course and crossing each otherat intervals, bobbin-earriers havmeme@ ing longitudinal runners engagingthe up per portlon of the track-grooves to gulde the earners through theCrossovers, und

rollers journfl-lled on the Acarriers to engagethe track-grooves atpoints below the runners, suld track-grooves belng out away along thelrupper edges to provlde @leur- Jill-lll B. GllLMGlE.

